Goodman Theatre News

Silk Road Rising Artistic Director Jamil Khoury and Executive Director Malik Gillani are proud to announce the Midwest Premiere of Invasion!, written by Jonas Hassen Khemiri, translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles, directed by Anna C. Bahow. Invasion! runs today, July 30 - September 1, 2013, in Pierce Hall at The Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St, Chicago.

On the heels of its successful July 23 'Community Day' event, Goodman Theatre adds a second dedicated 'Community Day' performance of The Jungle Book on August 13 at 7:30pm to which all guests are invited free of charge.

Sundance Institute and the LUMA Foundation previously announced that the two organizations would collaborate to host The Sundance Institute | LUMA Foundation Theatre Directors Retreat at Domaine de l'Armelliere, today, July 29 - August 9, in Arles, France. Under the supervision of Philip Himberg, Artistic Director of The Sundance Institute Theatre Program, Producing Director Christopher Hibma and Program Associate Anne Kauffman, the Retreat will be the first theatre director-centered residency at the Institute.

Yesterday's photos include THE JUNGLE BOOK's cast celebrating the 35th Anniversary of ANIMAL HOUSE, Max von Essen at PIPPIN, shots from ANNIE and MATILDA on Broadway, as well as Barn Theatre's TARZAN, Music Theatre of Wichita's BETTY BLUE EYES, SPAMALOT, SOUTH PACIFIC, SHREK and more!

It's Saturday, and that means it's time for BroadwayWorld's 'Saturday Intermission Pics' round-up. Today's photos feature Michael Strahan donning some saucy KINKY BOOTS, two great shots from THE JUNGLE BOOK in Chicago, plus pics from SOUL DOCTOR, MATILDA here and in the West End, CATS and ANYTHING GOES in Toronto, THE BOOK OF MORMON, TOP HAT in the West End, York Theatre's STORYVILLE, THE NANCE and more!

Producers of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, the winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Revival, are pleased to announce that Tracy Letts' Killer Joe will be heading to Broadway for the first time. The Broadway premiere of Killer Joe will reunite Pam MacKinnon, winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Director of a Play (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) and Tracy Letts, winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Actor (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?). The production is slated to hit Broadway in 2014.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced casting today for Ragtime, the sweeping musical which will kick off The Rep's 2013/14 60th Anniversary Season in the Quadracci Powerhouse theater.

'Sunday in the Park with George,' a Pulitzer Prize winning musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, begins performances today, July 24, 2013 at Peninsula Players Theatre, America's oldest professional resident summer theater and Door County, Wisconsin's theatrical icon. 'Sunday in the Park with George' has a three week run with performances Tuesday through Sunday through August 11, 2013.

The Elegy Project has announced the Chicago premiere of Elegy, October 31 - December 1, written by Ron Hirsen and directed by Dennis Zacek at the Richard Christiansen Theater at Victory Gardens Biograph, 2433 Lincoln Ave.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced casting today for I Left My Heart: A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett, the first production to open The Rep's 60th Anniversary 2013/14 Season, Venus in Fur, coming to the Stiemke Studio in late September, Forever Plaid, opening at the end of October in the Stackner Cabaret and Noises Off, the second production in the Quadracci Powerhouse this season.

The American Theatre Critic's Association announces the election of veteran Chicago theater critic Jonathan Abarbanel as Chair of the American Theatre Critics Association, at the conclusion of the Association's 40th annual conference on July 20, 2013, held this year in Shepherdstown, WV. He will serve a one-year term as Chair of the Association's nine-member executive committee and may be re-elected for up to two more years.

Playing at 99% of capacity and poised to become the best selling musical in Goodman Theatre history, The Jungle Book recently extended by popular demand through August 18-marking the first time that three extension weeks have been added to a production in the Goodman's home on Dearborn Street. Now the show's success in Chicago might mean more productions internationally for the new Disney musical, however similarities to The Lion King might keep it from Broadway for a while.

It's Saturday, and that means it's time for BroadwayWorld's 'Saturday Intermission Pics' round-up. Today's photos feature a last SIP from THE FANTASTICKS' Daniel Rowan ?and Ali Ewoldt before they head off to The Muny, the cast of KINKY BOOTS anticipating the royal baby, MATILDA, THE BOOK OF MORMON and more staying cool backstage, Goodman Theatre's THE JUNGLE BOOK channeling Comic-Con, and a Stratford Festival FIDDLER ON THE ROOF calendar, plus pics from PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, THE NANCE, SOUL DOCTOR, TOP HAT, JERSEY BOYS and lots of regional shows!

Goodman Theatre presents four free staged readings of new plays developed in the Playwrights Unit, a season-long residency program for local writers who meet twice monthly with members of the theater's artistic staff to discuss their plays in progress. Out of this process emerges four brand new plays, which appear in FREE staged readings: Sleeping with the Prince of Darkness: The Imagined Pillow Talk of FBI Agent John O'Neill by Greg Allen (July 20 at 7:30pm); F(law)less by christopher oscar peña (July 21 at 2:30pm); Prowess by Ike Holter (July 21 at 7:30pm); and Ninth Man Out by Alice Austen (August 16 at 7:30pm).

Producers Daryl Roth and Eva Price announced today that Sebastian Arcelus, Fred Dalton Thompson (in his Broadway debut), and John Douglas Thompson will star in the new Broadway courtroom drama A Time to Kill, Tony Award-winning playwright Rupert Holmes' stage adaptation of John Grisham's best-selling novel. This new Broadway play holds the distinction of being the first-ever John Grisham property to be adapted for the stage. A Time to Kill is set to open on Broadway on October 20, 2013 at the John Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street). Previews begin September 28th. Ethan McSweeny will direct. The remainder of the high-powered ensemble cast of 13 will be announced shortly. For more information, visit www.ATimeToKillOnBroadway.com.

"Sunday in the Park with George," a Pulitzer Prize winning musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, begins performances July 24, 2013 at Peninsula Players Theatre, America's oldest professional resident summer theater and Door County, Wisconsin's theatrical icon. "Sunday in the Park with George"" has a three week run with performances Tuesday through Sunday through August 11, 2013.